New Delhi, July 29 (ANI): As he concludes his tenure in India, German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann said India-Germany relations have reached the “next level” over the past several years, citing significant progress in skilled migration, defense cooperation, sustainability, and technology partnerships.
In an interview with ANI on Wednesday, Ackermann described his tenure as a period during which bilateral ties expanded across several new areas.
“Indo-German relations have been excellent for years, but what we have seen over the last four or five years is that we have truly reached the next level,” he said.
Among the biggest achievements, the ambassador highlighted the expansion of legal pathways for skilled Indian professionals to work in Germany.
“We have seen so many Indians learning German, particularly nurses and caregivers, who have decided to go to Germany and are welcomed there with good jobs. We have also seen apprentices for skilled trades, IT engineers moving to Germany, and, above all, the number of Indian students studying in Germany has really exploded. We now have 60,000 Indian students in Germany, and that shows how attractive Germany is for Indians,” he said.
Ackermann also pointed to growing defense cooperation, saying collaboration between the two countries’ armed forces has deepened while defense industry ties have gained momentum.
“The most visible example is the submarines, which are very close to being ordered. The agreement will likely be signed within the next month, perhaps even within weeks,” he said.
The ambassador also described the India-Germany Green and Sustainable Development Partnership as a “game changer,” saying it has enabled cutting-edge sustainability projects and reflects the increasingly broad scope of bilateral engagement.
Speaking about the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, Ackermann called it a “milestone” and expressed confidence that it would be signed by the end of the year and implemented during the first half of next year.
“Trading will become much easier than before. I think that will also make investment much easier. Through the FTA, India will become an even more attractive destination for investment and trade. The same is true in the other direction,” he said, noting that more than 2,000 German companies operate in India while nearly 1,000 Indian companies have invested in Germany.
Looking ahead, Ackermann said India and Germany are steadily expanding cooperation in emerging technologies, including semiconductors, critical technologies, and research. He also identified space cooperation as an area with enormous future potential.
“We are hugely impressed by what India is doing in space. I think we will intensify our cooperation there as well,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of people-to-people ties, Ackermann said the growing Indian community in Germany has strengthened mutual understanding between the two countries.
“It is hugely important. You cannot underestimate how important people-to-people ties are,” he said, while expressing hope that more German tourists would choose India as a travel destination.
As he prepares to take up his next diplomatic assignment in China, Ackermann said his experience in India has prepared him well to serve in another large and diverse country.
Asked to describe India in three words, he chose “curious, warm, and ambitious.” (ANI)
About The Author
